"We have received an unusual request and I would like to have assistance with the legal aspects of the issue. A patient has had her breast removed and wants it 'back' to bury it," the coordinator wrote. In an email dated January 16th a lawyer representing the board ruled that there is no legal hinder to acceding to the woman's request.

"There is in principle no hinder according to the rules to release a patient's tissue or body part to the patient following an operation/amputation if this doesn't pose any risk for public health." The lawyer explained that in his opinion "in normal cases" it is just a question of packaging the body parts in a suitable fashion in order to ensure that there is no risk of complications or infection.